Overview

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes.

If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.

Regular HEAP Benefit

If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help you pay for heating your home.

Eligibility and benefits are based on:

income,

household size,

the primary heating source, and

the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.

Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat.

Your household may be eligible for a Regular benefit if:

You and your household members are United States Citizens or qualified aliens and

Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size as posted in the table below or

You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or

You receive Temporary Assistance or

You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone)

Regular HEAP Benefit Amounts 2017-18

Base Benefit Amount

Living Situation

$21

Eligible households that live in government subsidized housing or a group home setting with heat included in their rent.

$30 or $35

Eligible households who have heating costs included as part of their rent.

$675 + applicable add-ons

Eligible households whose primary heat is oil, kerosene, or propane and who make direct payments to the vendor for heating costs.

$525 + applicable add-ons

Eligible households whose primary heat is wood, wood pellets, coal, corn or other deliverable fuel and who make direct payments to the vendor for heating costs.

$350 + applicable add-ons

Eligible households whose primary heat is electricity or natural gas and who make direct payments based on their household’s actual usage to the vendor.

Regular Benefit Add-Ons for Households Paying Directly for Heat

The amount of the base Regular benefit will be increased by $26 if the household’s gross income is in the Tier 1 income range.

Tier I eligibility is based on gross income and household size, on the date of application the household's gross income must be at or below 130% of federal poverty level for the household size; or at least one adult household member must be in receipt of ongoing assistance through Temporary Assistance (TA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or code A SSI.

The amount of the base Regular benefit will be increased by $25 if the household contains a vulnerable individual (household member who is age 60 or older, under age 6 or permanently disabled).

Emergency HEAP Benefit

The 2017-18 Emergency benefit opened January 2, 2018.

Beginning February 12, 2018, a second emergency benefit is available for households who have exhausted both the Regular and first Emergency HEAP benefits and who are in a heat or heat-related energy emergency, as defined by HEAP and who meet the eligibility guidelines for emergency benefit assistance.

If you are eligible, the Emergency HEAP Benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat or heat related emergency.

Emergency HEAP benefits and eligibility are based on:

income,

available resources, and

the type of emergency

If you have an emergency you must contact your HEAP Local District Contact for assistance. Assistance cannot be provided through this website.

You may be eligible for an emergency HEAP benefit if:

Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or

Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or

You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.

and

Your income is at or below the current income guidelines as posted in the table below or you receive Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Code A Supplemental Security Income.

The heating and/or electric bill is in your name and

Your household's available resources are:

less than $2,000 if no member of your household is age 60 or older; or

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefit

If you have an emergency you must contact your HEAP Local District Contact for assistance. Assistance cannot be provided through this website.

The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit opened November 6, 2017.

If you are a homeowner and eligible, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help you repair or replace your furnace, boiler and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep your home’s primary heating source working.

Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to repair or replace your furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment, $3,000 for a repair and $6,500 for a replacement.

You must go to your HEAP Local District Contact to apply. Your local district contact will decide if you meet all the eligibility conditions, including the income and resource requirements.

Before work is started it must be approved and authorized by a HEAP Local District Contact. Payment is made directly to the vendor after all the work is completed.

Clean and Tune Benefit

The HEAP Clean and Tune benefit opened July 3, 2017 and closed February 9, 2018.

Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

You may be eligible for a benefit if:

You are the homeowner

Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted on the following table

Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old

Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months

You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services

Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Where to apply

Cooling Assistance Benefit

If you are eligible, you may receive one Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool.

In circumstances where an air conditioner cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided.

Only one air conditioner or fan, not to exceed $800 with installation, will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

You may be eligible for a Cooling Assistance HEAP benefit if:

Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted in the following table, or

You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamp) benefits, or

You receive Temporary Assistance (TA), or

You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone), and

You and your household members are United States Citizens or qualified aliens, and

Includes an individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by heat, and

You received a Regular benefit greater than $21 in the current program year, and

You currently do not have a working air conditioner or the air conditioner you have is five years old or older, and

You did not receive a HEAP funded air conditioner within the past ten years.

Your household eligibility requirements include filing an application with your local department of social services, providing all necessary documentation, and the household must reside in an eligible living situation.

Getting the air conditioner installed

A participating Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) vendor list can be obtained by contacting your HEAP Local District Contact. It will be your responsibility to maintain the air conditioner. This includes the responsibility to remove, cover, store, and/or reinstall the unit or the installation sleeve after vendor installation.